| 30 Teams, 30 Days: Milwaukee Draft Preview Authored by Christopher Reina - June 12, 2009 - 9:56 pm
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2009 Draft Picks: 10th, 41st
Pre-Draft 2009-10 Projected Starters:
PG Luke Ridnour
SG Michael Redd
SF Richard Jefferson
PF Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
C Andrew Bogut
Key Reserves:
SG Charlie Bell
SF Joe Alexander
C Francisco Elson
C Dan Gadzuric
What the Bucks Do Well:
Before you have a heart murmur while reading the Milwaukee Bucks 2009-10 Projected Starters section, realize that it is highly likely that restricted free agents Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva will both likely be elsewhere next season. Hence the lineup listed above.
Moving on, the Bucks continue to be one of those teams that assemble a ton of talent, win a decent amount of games, but ultimately fall victim to injury woes every single year. Once again, the Bucks were hit hard with injuries last season, to the point that they actually had ten different guys start 20 or more games for them. Talk about lineup and rotation instability.
New coach Scott Skiles did a solid job performing with a potpourri lineup, winning their most games since 2005-06, when they last reached the postseason with a 40-42 record.
Richard Jefferson had a great first season in Milwaukee, picking up most of the scoring load once Mike Redd was shockingly injured for most of the season. He led the team playing in all 82 games (81 starts) with 19.6 points per game, while tacking on 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Ramon Sessions stepped into Mo Williams’ spot and averaged 12.4 points and a team-leading 5.7 assists per game. Andrew Bogut showed signs of life in his limited season as well, averaging a double-double (11.7 points and 10.3 rebounds) to go along with a block per game.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute stole the rookie spotlight away from the more heralded Joe Alexander, as the second rounder recorded 51 starts, 7.2 points, and 5.9 rebounds per game compared to Alexander’s 0 starts, 4.7 points, and 1.9 boards.
Greatest Areas of Improvement:
Upgrade at Point Guard
For the second straight year, the Bucks are in danger of having their underrated option at the point slip away from them. First it was Williams, now likely Sessions. They’ve gone from T.J. Ford to Mo Williams to Ramon Sessions to an aging Luke Ridnour in four successive seasons.
Paint Presence
With Villanueva packing up his bags as well, the Bucks frontline is lacking an arsenal of weapons in the paint. Behind the health-challenged Bogut, they only have an undersized Mbah a Moute, the scrapper Gadzuric, and the upper-class man’s Saer Sene, Francisco Elson. They have no one who even wants to score points in the middle. If they can beef up their interior attack, that will make life much more difficult for opponents when they consider leaving open shots for guys like Mike Redd on the outside.
Who’s Gone Number 10 Recently?
Over the past four years, the big man has reigned supreme. Andrew Bynum and Brook Lopez could be battling for 2nd and 3rd team All-NBA selections at center behind Dwight Howard throughout the next decade, and Spencer Hawes is waiting for a competent coach to mold him into one as well (Step to the plate Paul Westphal!). Okay, so maybe the middle-class man’s Francisco Elson, Saer Sene, was the sleeper pick to keep the Sonics in Seattle, but otherwise the 10th pick has resulted relatively well in the past half decade.
2008
Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets
2007
Spencer Hawes, Sacramento Kings
2006
Mouhamed Sene, Seattle Supersonics
2005
Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers
2004
Luke Jackson, Cleveland Cavaliers
Who Should the Bucks Target?
For more in-depth analysis and background regarding the players that the Bucks should target in this year’s Draft, click on each player name to be redirected to Christopher Reina’s Prospect Report piece.
- Jonny Flynn of Syracuse
Jonny Flynn was originally projected to fall to this part of the lottery, but now it is entirely possible that he may slide inside of the top 10. Flynn would give them a speedy point guard that can finish above the rim and make plays for his teammates. His small size would be reminiscent of the last point guard to lead the Bucks to the postseason, T.J. Ford.
- Jeff Teague of Wake Forest
Like Flynn, Teague is an explosive point guard who can score from anywhere on the floor. His size makes him a few inches taller than the smaller Flynn, but his heart and leadership were somewhat in question as his Demon Deacons were considered a flop in the second half as the Orangemen soared into the NCAA tournament. Teague has the potential to be one of the best point guards in this draft and could be the likely heir apparent to the Ford/Williams/Sessions lineage.
- Jordan Hill of Arizona
When the mock draft circuit started gaining steam a couple of months ago, there was no chance the Bucks had a prayer of landing the talented power forward out of Zona. But recent reports have him slipping down into the lower half of the lottery (picks 8-14), and this would be an absolute best case scenario for Milwaukee. His skill set would expedite the removal of Villanueva from the roster and provide them with everything they are missing up front. However, it is quite unlikely that he will be available when the Bucks are on the clock.
- DeJuan Blair of Pittsburgh
This draft is quite devoid of big men who can put the ball on the block and end up with a bucket – but Blair has that type of game. The question is, will the Bucks bank on him making the conversion to the pros with his undersized body? Will he be able to bully up inside with his back to the basket? If he can produce like he did at Pitt, the Bucks will have a man who can give them additional post presence while Bogut is on the bench…or in the hospital.
Picks Over the Past Five Years
The Bucks have made better picks in the second round than they did in the lottery of the last two seasons. While it is looking like Sessions may be on his way out, they should put a priority on retaining the talented Mbah a Moute in the future.
2008
Joe Alexander, 8th
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, 37th
2007
Yi Jianlian, 6th
Ramon Sessions, 56th
2006
David Noel, 39th
2005
Andrew Bogut, 1st
Ersan Ilyasova, 36th
2004
None
Who Do the Fans Want?
According to Andrew Perna’s Milwaukee Bucks Lottery Summit, an interactive forum featuring the responses of true RealGM hoops fans hoping to add their two cents to the Bucks Draft discussion, the fans of Milwaukee have made it known that they would like to get depth at both point guard and power forward.
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to make the playoffs?
LUKE23: I think they improved their defense pretty significantly, but injuries killed them.
trwi7: If Andrew Bogut would've been at least semi-healthy, they probably would've made the playoffs.
europa: Better health for Bogut and Michael Redd.
.
blueedwards: If we stayed healthy.
Bucksfans1and2: Health.
MouteKicksBoute: It really came down to injuries.
paul: Kept Bogut healthy, that is all.
MilBucksBackOnTop06: This was not a playoff team coming into the season in the first place.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
LUKE23: When healthy, rebounding and forcing turnovers.
trwi7: Defense. Especially when Bogut was healthy and when Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was on the court.
europa: Great coaching, and a strong sense of team with the ugly selfishness of the past two seasons removed.
.
blueedwards: Rebounding when Bogut was healthy.
Bucksfans1and2: Defense (with Bogut) and rebounding.
MouteKicksBoute: The defense was much improved.
paul: Rebounding, team defense and forcing opposition turnovers.
MilBucksBackOnTop06: The coach was our biggest strength, along with our returning depth before Hammond made the trades.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
LUKE23: Mbah a Moute.
trwi7: Mbah a Moute.
europa: Mbah a Moute was arguably the biggest steal in last year's draft.
.
blueedwards: The Prince.
Bucksfans1and2: Prince.
MouteKicksBoute: Mbah a Moute.
paul: Mbah a Moute
MilBucksBackOnTop06: No one had a surprisingly effective season.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
LUKE23: Richard Jefferson.
trwi7: Jefferson and Joe Alexander.
europa: Jefferson brought many positive intangibles, but his play on the court wasn't as good as in season’s past.
.
blueedwards: Alexander.
Bucksfans1and2: RJ and “Potsie”.
MouteKicksBoute: Alexander.
paul: Alexander
MilBucksBackOnTop06: Alexander and Hammond.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
LUKE23: On a scale of 1 to 10, probably a 3.
trwi7: I'm not confident at all. Probably a 2 or 3 out of 10.
europa: To quote Fox Mulder, “I want to believe.”
.
blueedwards: What front office?
Bucksfans1and2: I’m at about a 4 out of 10.
MouteKicksBoute: Very confident.
paul: Reasonably. Unlike many on the board, I liked the majority of the moves Hammond made this past season.
MilBucksBackOnTop06: No confidence whatsoever.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
LUKE23: A point guard and power forward.
trwi7: A point guard and power forward, most likely.
europa: A physical power forward remains a huge need, as does depth at point guard in the hope that Luke Ridnour is traded.
.
blueedwards: The money needed to sign the players we draft.
Bucksfans1and2: A point and a power forward.
MouteKicksBoute: A point guard.
paul: A power forward, followed by a point guard and a shooting guard.
MilBucksBackOnTop06: A difference maker!
7. Who would you like the Bucks to take with the 10th pick?
LUKE23: DeMar DeRozan.
trwi7: DeRozan or Jrue Holiday.
europa: Holiday. If he's not there, I hope they get either DeRozan or Tyreke Evans.
.
blueedwards: I hope we trade down.
Bucksfans1and2: Holiday, and then Dionte Christmas in the second round.
MouteKicksBoute: Jennings and Christmas.
paul: I’m looking to trade down as well.
MilBucksBackOnTop06: Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings, Gerald Henderson, Terrence Williams, B.J. Mullens or Earl Clark.
Who do you want the Bucks to draft at number 10? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions. |
